Toe guard



1962 R. F. JOHNSON 3,050,057

TOE GUARD Filed April 25, 1960 INVENT ,Qurus FT .joH on 3,050,057 TOE GUARD Rufus F. Johnson, 807 23rd S., Seattle, Wash. Filed Apr. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 24,299 1 Claim. (Cl. 128153) This invention relates to toe guards or toe protective shields. More particularly, it has reference to a toe guard or shield that may be readily applied to the human foot to protect the toes of that foot from contact with the bedding, or bed covers, when the wearer of the protective shield is sleeping or resting in bed.

Explanatory to this invention, it will be here stated that it frequently happens that a person receives an injury to the toes of one or both feet and it then is desirable to apply salve or other medication thereto. However, it is not practical to apply salve or medication and then have it wiped off by rubbing contact of the toes with the bed covers, or even by their contact with stocking or other wearing apparel. It is the experience of persons who are bothered with corns, and who apply salve thereto, that the benefit of the salve is generally nullified to more or less extent by reason of its being wiped from the toes by the bedding or any protecting garmet that engages the toes.

In view of the above, it has been the principal object of this invention to provide a protective toe guard which may be easily and readily applied for use to the human foot, and which is equipped with means that will protectively surround or enclose the toes with clearance so that any medication applied thereto will not be disturbed or wiped oii by contact of the toes with bedding or the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a protective guard of the above stated character that is easily and readily adjustable to feet of various sizes and which is of an open cage-like construction that does not prevent the desired freedom of toe movement no does it interfere with the circulation of air about the toes while the guard is being worn.

Further objects and advantages reside in the details of construction of parts embodied in the device; in both its preferred and modified forms and in the manner of its use, as will hereinafter be described.

In accomplishing these above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of its construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toe protective shield in its presently preferred form.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the shield taken in a horizontal plane.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the shield'as applied to a users foot, and indicating its support of bed covers away from the toes.

FIG. 4 is a fragmental perspective view showing an alternative form of foot band.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In its present preferred form of construction, the protective shield of this invention, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a securing strip of thin, flexible plastic material, preferably of from one to one and one-half inches in width and of such length that it can be applied about the instep portion of the foot as shown in FIG. 3. At its opposite ends this strip is formed with a plurality of eyelets 11 designed to receive a lace or string 12 therethrough whereby the band may be adjusted to the instep of the foot and properly secured thereabout for the intended use of the shield.

Fixed to this strip or band 10, at points which will Patented Aug. 21, 1962 be located at opposite sides of the foot when the band is secured properly in place, are the opposite end portions of a flexible strip 15 of plastic, or any equivalent material; this strip being of such length that, with the band 10 properly secured in place, it will be bowed forwardly, in a horizontal plane, to pass about the forward ends as well as lateral of the toes of the wearer of the shield with substantial clearance.

Also fixed to the band 10 at opposite sides of the end joining tie or lacing are strips 16 and 17 which are arched in vertical planes, to extend with substantial clearance over and under the toes; the opposite ends of these two strips being suitably fixed, respectively, to top and lower portions of the band 10 as applied and secured about the foot.

It is also intended that the strips 16 and 17 be joined, adhesively, or otherwise, to the forwardly arching portion of the strip 15 as shown in FIG. 1 so that together the strips 15, 16 and 17 provide a sort of open toe enclosing cage.

It is further anticipated that the strips 16 and 17 might be cut, shaped and joined to the band 10 and to each other in various ways other than herein shown, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, for example, by stapling, gluing or heat sealing.

In FIG. 4, I have shown an alternative construction, like that of FIG. 1 in all respects except in that the opposite ends of strip 10 are joined by a short length of elastic 20, which will operate to automatically adjust the band 10 to suit feet of difi'erent sizes, within certain limits.

With the shield as above described applied to the foot, as has been shown in FIG. 3, the toes of that foot are protected from the weight of and the rubbing thereagainst of bedding when the shield wearer is sleeping or resting in bed and likewise it will protect the toes from stockings, socks or the like, when drawn over the foot.

It is apparent that various materials either plastic, metal or fiber, might be employed in the making of such shields, and joined together in various ways and the cage eifect thereof may be produced by the use of more or less of the toe protecting strips or bands than herein shown.

Devices of this kind as easy to apply; easy to adjust to size and, when in use, will prevent the undesirable re sults of salve or medication being wiped off by or caused to stain the bedding.

What I claim as new is:

A toe protector of the character described comprising a flexible and adjustable, circular band adapted to be removably secured to a foot about the arch thereof, a plurality of stiff strips of U-form joined together to form a cage, of suflicient size to surround the toe end portion of the foot, the ends of said strips being substantially parallel and secured to said band and at least one of said strips being positioned substantially at right angle to the other strips at the point of joining.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 729,293 Dorman May 26, 1903 1,161,478 Jackson Nov. 23, 1915 1,559,324 Jensen Oct. 27, 1925 1,627,596 Cutshaw May 10, 1927 2,013,068 Schenk Sept. 3, 1935 2,358,966 Einstoss Sept. 26, 1944 2,464,457 Madaio Mar. 15, 1949' 2,503,656 Cone Apr. 11, 1950 2,596,211 Comfort May 13, 1952 

